Course:History 344 Nasty Families/Titles and Statuses/Country House
The English Country House
The country house or manor was the centre of a gentleman's personal kingdom, the physical embodiment of his dominion over the land around him and his most conspicuous form of consumption [1]. It was in his stately home that a gentleman would oversee the daily operations of his lands, raise his family and entertain the other people that inhabited the lofty upper-crust of English society.
Houses and Status
In early modern England, power was gained most often by ownership of land and exploitation of it. A gentleman's place, his status, was based on power and money; both things he would acquire and then reinvest in his property [2]. The more prosperous a gentleman appeared, the more his neighbours and social equals would want to make connections with him <ref. Ibid., 2. </ref>. The country house created an image for its owner. It projected wealth, opulence and even a sense of mystery about the family residing within [3]. Country houses also served the purpose of gallery of the family's history, pedigree and achievements, whether through prominent display of famous ancestors to arms and armour reflecting a martial past. “If the head of an established family was ambitious to raise its status ... one of the most obvious ways to do so was to rebuild or improve his house [4].”
House Design
Unlike in medieval times, early 17th century houses became much more focused on symmetry [5]. Bedchambers usually lined the outside of the building which was centred on a great hall with a parlour and kitchen off to the sides. Towers on the corners of the buildings were also very prominent.
Home Improvement
A country home in the time of the Stuarts could be modestly, but smartly, renovated for a cost of around ₤1500, with sweeping gardens and intricate hedges [6] including the costs of a stable. Another source great expense but also status was the collection of books in the library. Completing these large and intricate houses took many years to complete and often a great chunk of the family income [7], but the end result was the gentleman's proverbial castle, the solid basis from which the wealth and status of his family was built on.